Maria Katharina Kasper was a 19th-century German Catholic nun who established the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. Born in 1820 in Dernbach, she faced significant economic hardships and family losses that delayed her entry into religious life. Driven by a desire to combine contemplative prayer with active service to the needy, she organized a group of women to care for the sick and poor. Her congregation eventually expanded internationally, following her initial efforts to provide social and spiritual support to her local community and beyond.